Harnessing the power of genetics: fast forward genetics inCaenorhabditis elegans

Forward genetics is a powerful tool to unravel molecular mechanisms of diverse biological processes. The success of genetic screens primarily relies on the ease of genetic manipulation of an organism and the availability of a plethora of genetic tools. The roundwormCaenorhabditis eleganshas been one of the favorite models for genetic studies due to its hermaphroditic lifestyle, ease of maintenance, and availability of various genetic manipulation tools. The strength ofC. elegansgenetics is highlighted by the leading role of this organism in the discovery of several conserved biological processes. In this review, the principles and strategies for forward genetics inC. elegansare discussed. Further, the recent advancements that have drastically accelerated the otherwise time-consuming process of mutation identification, making forward genetic screens a method of choice for understanding biological functions, are discussed. The emphasis of the review has been on providing practical and conceptual pointers for designing genetic screens that will identify mutations, specifically disrupting the biological processes of interest.

Automated summary

Forward genetics is a powerful tool for unraveling molecular mechanisms of biological processes, with C. elegans being a favored model due to ease of genetic manipulation and availability of tools. Recent advancements have accelerated mutation identification, making forward genetic screens the method of choice for understanding biological functions.